The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has ordered the immediate revocation of 278 small-scale mining licenses nationwide. The sweeping action targets operators for regulatory breaches and the expiration of operating permits.
The decision was officially confirmed by Paa Kwesi Schandorf, the Spokesperson and Media Relations Officer at the Lands Ministry, who shared the news in a public post on Thursday, October 23.
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According to Mr. Schandorf, this mass revocation is a core component of the Ministry’s ongoing campaign to sanitise Ghana’s small-scale mining sector and mandate strict compliance with all national mining regulations.
The cancelled licenses belong to operators cited for serious violations, including non-compliance with essential environmental and safety standards and those who continued to operate illegally after their permits had formally expired.
The move signals Minister Armah-Kofi Buah’s heightened commitment to enforcing discipline and accountability within an industry that has been significantly challenged by persistent illegal operations and widespread environmental damage in recent years.
The Ministry has indicated it will soon release further specifics regarding the affected concessions and detail the subsequent steps it will take to support responsible small-scale operations that adhere to the legal and environmental regulatory framework.